Adjustable spring-tractor



G. W. HAW'LEY.

ADJUSTABLE SPRING TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22,1920.

2. 91 1T ,E 2 IS WU DM s d2 DU 1m nw DL hvY G. W. HAWLEY.

ADJUSTABLE SPRTNG TRACTORn APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1920.

GEORGE W. HAWLEY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THE xNY- SCHEERER CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE SPRING-TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application led January 22, 1920.' Serial No. 353,220.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HAWLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cityof Bridgeport, State Aof. Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Spring-Tractors, set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus of the type for applying limb traction. In the reduction of many bone fractures success is dependent upon relieving the reduced fracture of all muscle tension. lIt is not unusual that each individual case require an individually calculated or measured amount of traction for the best results. As the' traction applied to a limb is primarily to overcome muscle and tissue resistance, any relaxation in the muscle resistance necessitates an adjustment of the tractor apparatus. Heretofore it has been usual to apply the traction through the medium of taut bandages exerting tension through some framework 0r through the medium of weights and pulleys. In the case of bandages, while the tension applied at the first dressing may be correct, changed conditions result frequently in the need of many readadjustments which with bandages are diilicult and time taking. In the case of weights and pulleys, the requirement of a fixed positioning of the patient is a disadvantage and likewise the apparatus, necessarily extending out of the patients bed, also has disadvantages.

An object of the present invention is to provide for the ready adjustment of tractor means to supply a measured tension to a limb. It is also an obj ect of the invention to combine such means with a frame or splint approximately coextensive with the limb under treatment.

Further objects are to improve'I in general adjustable traction apparatus for limb extension. The above will better be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment described in the following speciication, which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. The claims are directed to this illustrative embodiment solely for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

In the drawingsj Figure` 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative positioning of the frame to a leg;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus -exerting measured traction upon a leg extremity;

Fig. 3 1s a plan view, with parts broken away and with parts shown in section,'of the traction mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section,lwith parts shown in elevation and with parts omitted, through line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment illustrated the extensor frame A comprises one or more, preferably a pair of, extensor strutsvl and 2 adapted to extendalong the I imb to be treated and of any suitable shape and material to resist the traction to be applied to the limb. In thel embodiment shown the struts are in the form of steel rods having a pocketed tension resisting part or cross bar 3 at their extreme ends, and preferably formed integral therewith. The body ends of .the frame A are secured to an inclined ring 4 which may have a surface padding 5 for direct engage-. ment with the body.

A cross-head B is provided with a side bearing 6 coperating with the strut 2 and a symmetrica] bearing 7 coperating with the strut 1, these bearings being provided at the ends of arms 8 and 9. The cross-head B also has a boss 10 to provide for the attachment of the adjustable traction mechanism.l The arms 8 and 9 are provisions for attaching tension bandages when the `same are employed as surgical connectors. The cross-head likewise is preferably provided with hook `shaped clips 12 and 13 which form a seat transverse to the struts 1 and 2 and are shown seating the cross pin 14, which connects the stirrup structure 16 and 17. In this form the stirrup structure provides in each leg an eye 18 for leg 16 andan eye 19 for leg 17 and also fingers 20 and 21 for the respective legs. These eyes and fingers serve to mount and support a foot support i eyes and offsets of the stirrup. Stirrup links are formed with hooks 40 to hook over the pin 41 which, in the embodiment illustrated is in direct surgical engagement withl the os calcis 42 of the foot D.

y/part of the buckle 43 in a single casting). AAn axially extensive sleeve 45 has surface threads 46 mating with the threads o f the nut or block 44, and is provided with an axial bore 47 terminating at its free end in.

a stop 48 cast as an integral inturned flange with the sleeve 45. The opposite end of the sleeve 45 is threaded into the fingercap 49 in which it may be irremovably secured if desired as by solder 50. A stem 51 is secured as by riveting 52 centrally of the cross-head B, and extends loosely through lthe bore 53 of the stop 48 and axially internally of the bore 47. This stem is preferably provided with a graduated or measuring scale 54, indicating pounds pull. A swiveling stop in the form of an enlargement or washer 55 is swiveled to the far end of the stem 51 as by the riveting 56. Between the stops 55 and 48 a compression spring 57 is located to resist the outward movement of the stem 51 and so that a measured traction on the crosshead B is indicated by the scale 54, read against the end of stop 48.

Although the actual construction of the traction mechanism as embodied has been described, it is to be understood that the claims are drawn to cover any obvious interchanges and modifications in the combination of the relatively threaded parts and the stem and their connections between the cross-head B and the buckle 43. For example, it is conceivable that the sleeve be threaded into the cross head instead of into a part connected with the buckle, or that the stem could be threaded and the spring be between the sleeve and the buckle or between the sleeve and the cross-head.

It should 'also be understood that whereas a tractor frame comprising two struts has been illustrated and described, it is contemplated that the omission of either strut would still provide a frame measurably serviceable, and that'this is contemplated in the claims. Likewise the cross-head, which in its present embodiment has a slide bearing -upon each strut, would still be a cross-head if providing a bearing solely upon one strut.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent lis 1. In limb traction apparatus, an extensorframe having one or more extensor-struts Iwith a vtransverse tension resisting bar at one end; in combination with an adjustable tractor mechanism for exerting traction on la limb through the medium of a surgical connector, comprising a buckle removably securable to said resistngbar having a traction functioning part offset from the plane of said resisting bar and strut and a hooklpart to engage said resisting bar, a crosshead having provisions for attaching the free end of said surgical connector andone or more end guide bearings for laterally remov-ably engaging against 'said one or more struts, and mutually threaded mating parts adjustably linking said buckle with said cross-head, but capable as a whole ofready removal from said frame.

2. In limb traction apparatus, an extensorframe having a pair of'extensor-struts and a transverse tension resisting bar cross-connecting said struts; a cross-head having open guides for slidably engaging said struts, provisions for attaching surgical connectors, and a central boss offset below the plane of said struts; a buckle removably securable to said resisting bar and having a .socket offset from the plane of said struts and alined with said boss; and a measuring traction link comprising a threaded shankA adjustable upon rotation combinedl with a spring .scales alined with and ad `ustably linking together said boss and said socket.

3. A surgical tractor mechanism for applying an adjustable measured traction to a limb, comprisin a connector securing cross-head; a tenslon resisting part; and adjustable spring means for exerting traction between said tension resisting part and said cross-head, said means comprising an internally threaded buckle for attachment to' said resisting part, an externally threaded sleeve screwed into said buckle and having anl axialbore, a stem connected at one end to said cross-head and extending into the bore of said sleeve, and a compression spring within said bore and resisting the withdrawal of said stem from `said bore.

4. In surgical traction apparatus for exerting traction on a limb, an extensor frame comprising a pair of extensor-struts adapted to extend along the limb, an inclined ring for embracing' the body end of the limb,

said struts, said cross-head having provi- I sions for the attachment of surgical connectors, an externally threaded sleeve ha ving an axial bore, a part secured to said buckle forming a threaded end for said sleeve; a stem secured to said cross-head and extending into the bore of said sleeve; 'a stop at the end of said bore and at the endof said stem; and a compression spring reacting A against said stops.

ed to extend along` the limb, an inclined ring for embracing the body endof the- 1imb-,. and atension resisting bar cross-connecting the free ends of said struts in combination with Cmeans for applying a measured adjustable traction upon a limb, said meanscomprising a buckle detachably connectable withsaid tension resisting bar; a cross-head having end guldes engaging said struts tof/prevent rotation of said cross-head but permittingav sliding movement thereof along said struts,

said cross-head having provisions for the attaehmentof surgical connertors comprising hook-like clips forming a seat transverse to said Struts; an externally threaded sleeve havingan axial bore, a part, sevured to said buckle forming a threaded end for said sleeve; a stem secured to said cross-head and extending into the bore of said sleeve; -a stop at the end of said bore and at the und of said stem; and a compression spring reacting against said stops.

In Witness whereof l have signed my name to this specification, this 3rd day of December. 1919.

GEORGE W.l HAWLEY. 

